Through the gap in the door, Paddy went quiet for two seconds. Then his voice came, utterly sure of itself.
“We're not breaking up.”
“Five years. You don't just walk away from five years together.”
“You know how Carly is. She's soft. Every time we fight, all I have to do is back down a little and she comes around on her own.”
“Once I'm out of here, I'll get her a nice gift, smooth things over. She'll let it go.”
Karl let out a sigh.
“But Paddy, you give way too much to Sarah.”
“What woman could stand watching her man bend over backwards for someone else with zero boundaries? What are you even thinking?”
Paddy's tone turned serious.
“How can you even compare the two?”
“Sarah's family went bankrupt. She's got nothing left.”
“I told her I'd take care of her for life, and I meant it. I owe her that. It's a debt I have to pay.”
He paused, and his voice softened a fraction.
“Carly's reasonable. She gets it. After we're married, I'll treat her twice as well. I'll make it up to her in other ways.”
“But Sarah? I'm never letting go of that responsibility. Not in this lifetime. Carly will get used to it eventually.”
That was when Sarah's spoiled voice rang out behind me.
“Hey! What are you doing standing at the door?”
The conversation inside the room cut dead.
Paddy's head snapped up from the hospital bed.
The moment he saw me standing outside, panic flooded his face.
“Carly, when did you get here? Let me explain……”
I cut him off.
“Don't bother.”
“Paddy, I've heard your explanations so many times they make me sick.”
Paddy's face went white.
“Carly, stop doing this, okay? Karl and I were just talking, one thing led to another.”
“Besides, didn't I already tell you? This was the last time. From now on I'll definitely……”
I pulled a thin smile.
“The last time?”
“How many times have you told me it was the last time?”
“You've been lying to me all along. You never once planned to cut her off. You were just testing me, over and over, pushing me inch by inch until I'd accept this sick arrangement. Weren't you?”
Paddy's expression shifted. His lips moved, but no rebuttal came out……
My eyes burned.
“Paddy, every single time you went to those underground boxing fights, I couldn't close my eyes the entire night!”
“I sat there gripping my phone, terrified I'd get a call from the hospital, terrified that one day you'd die in that cage!”
“But did you ever think about me? Even once? Did it ever cross your mind that I was at home, waiting for you!”
Paddy's voice shot up, urgent.
“Nothing's going to happen to me!”
“I know what I'm doing. I walk out in one piece every time. Look at me, I'm fine!”
I let out a laugh.
“Fine?”
“Then let me ask you something, Paddy.”
“Even after we're married. Even after we have kids. If Sarah says one word, if she wants something, you'll still go behind my back to that place and risk your life earning money for her. Won't you?”
Paddy said nothing. He dropped his head and couldn't meet my eyes.
I looked away.
“Give me the black bag by your bed.”
Paddy blinked, caught off guard.
“What do you need the bag for? Carly, what are you doing?”
“Give it to me.”
Karl read the room, turned around, grabbed the bag, and handed it over.
I unzipped it, pulled out my ID and passport, and turned and walked out.
The next morning at nine sharp, I was standing in Professor Lambert's office.
“You're sure about this? Once you hand over your documents and the process starts, there's no backing out.”
I answered without hesitation.
“I'm sure. I won't regret it.”
……
Three days later.
Paddy pushed open the apartment door with a thick bandage still plastered across his forehead.
He'd stopped at the flower shop downstairs and picked up a bouquet of lisianthus, planning to do what he always did: soften her up, bow his head, smooth things over.
“Carly, I'm out of the hospital. Got you some……”
The apartment was silent. No one answered.
He frowned, changed his shoes, and walked into the bedroom.
“Still mad? I came straight home the second they discharged me……”
His voice cut off the instant he opened the wardrobe.
